GALENA, ILLINOIS

In the last five years, the Galena Lions Club has donated over $100,000 for the needs of local community organizations, including: 

The Galena ARC

United Churches of Galena

The Food Pantry

Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts

Toys for Tots

Red Cross of Northwest Illinois

Galena Area Emergency Medical Services

Safe Haven

Tyler's Justice Center

Galena Stauss Community Care Center

Our mission is to serve our community by providing voluntary services and financial assistance, especially in the areas of sight and hearing, within an atmosphere of fellowship and fun, and in keeping with the Lions' traditions of community involvement, international cooperation, and environmental protection.

SCHOLARSHIPS

In the last five years, the club has given $36,000 in scholarships to students pursuing an education that will lead to an occupation in the fields of sight and hearing. The Galena Lions Club has also built kiosks at the city owned Gateway Park and horseshoe Mound to provide information sights for the public.

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS

In five years, The Galena Lions club has donated over $30,000 to to various state, national, and international needs, such as: the Leader Dog Program of Rochester Hills, Michigan, the Illinois Eye Bank, the Lions of Illinois Foundation, Camp Lions, and disaster relief in several different areas of the state, country, and world. 

The LIONS (Liberty, Intelligence, Our Nation's Safety) was founded in 1917, in Chicago, Illinois. It began with businessmen wanting to give back to their community. The motto of the Lions became, and still is, "We Serve". 

THE LIONS CLUB INTERNATIONAL

The Lions Club International is currently the largest service organization in the world, with 1.35 million members in 46,000 clubs, in 206 countries. 

Lions help people receive glasses and hearing aids, support victims of natural disasters, recycle glasses, build parks for children, and provide many other needed services.

In 1925, Helen Keller asked the Lions to become "knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness." Her request inspired the Lions to focus on helping people with sight and sound needs.

SIGHT AND SOUND

In the last five years, The Galena Lions Club has donated over $60,000 to sight and hearing causes, such as individuals in need of eye exams, glasses, hearing aids, and cataract surgery.  Club members also donated  viewing scopes for enjoying the beautiful landscapes at Horseshoe mound, as well as audio books for The Galena Public Library.

Every year in the fall, you'll find Galena Lions Club members out in force selling our famed Lions mints and collecting donations. Our 2022 Candy Day was on October 29th, and it was our best year yet for donations. Our members are thankful for the support of those who were willing to give.

Our next Candy Day will be held on October 28th, 2023. We will be collecting at Tammy's Piggly Wiggly, as well as the downtown intersection of Main Street and Green Street. Stop down to give to a worthy cause and freshen your breath.

Help conserve sight by donating your usable  eyeglasses to children and adults throughout the world. Eyeglasses donated to Lions Clubs help millions to experience corrected vision for the first time, enabling them to read, attend school, gain employment, and take care of their families. It is estimated that worldwide Lions Clubs collect more than 20 million pairs of glasses each year.

All types of useable eyeglasses and sunglasses, prescription and non-prescription, are accepted. Once donated, eyeglasses are cleaned and classified. The eyeglasses are then distributed, free of charge, to people in need.

The Galena Lions club is always ready to accept eyeglass donations at our Galena Oktoberfest and Pancake Breakfast.

EYEGLASS DROP LOCATIONS

Lions Recycle for Sight drop boxes are conveniently located throughout Galena at the following locations:

Dupaco Community Credit Union - 11375 Oldenburg Lane

Illinois Bank & Trust - 716 South Bench Street

Emmy Lou's Cafe - 11347 Oldenburg Lane

First Community Bank of Galena - 101 Exchange Street

Medical Associates Eye Clinic - 10988 Bartell Boulevard

Tammy's Piggly Wiggly - 997 Galena Square Drive

Galena Elks Club - 123 North Main Street